So the other day I was doing so random surfing when I came upon some statistics from U.S. Census, produced in 2004.
I’ve always wondered just how many eligible bachelorettes were really out there in the good old U.S. of A, so I started crunching some numbers. Here’s the skinny: there are approximately 8 million men between the ages of 25-34 who have never married. By comparison, there are only 6 million women in the same demographic who have never married.
Since I won’t likely consider dating someone younger than 25, not just because of the creepy age difference, but also because someone that young will have a different and more naive perspective on life that would undoubtedly clash with my own sadder (but wiser) worldview, I’ve thus limited my options to within this age range.
I also won’t consider anyone with kids either, not merely because of the inherent risks that comes with raising someone else’s children (and the fact that I would be playing second fiddle to the kids right from the start), but also because Mommy would hurt me really badly if I ever brought home a girl cradling Junior and Juniorette on each arm.
So, according to stats I found elsewhere, 34% of women who have never married have kids. That winnows down the list to less than 4 million.
Since subjective traits such as personality, etc. can’t be measured in statistics, I’ll use the voting record to at least filter out those with incompatible political views. Since I’m conservative that would rule out the 70% of women who voted for Obama, which leaves me with less than 1.5 million eligible women.
Even now that still fails to take into consideration physical chemistry, common personality traits, religion, etc. (and also hoping she is of a sound enough mind without the need for mind altering drugs to keep her from going batpoopie insane.) Using all these factor it would be a MIRACLE if there were even 500,000 women left, but I’ll be generous though and presume even accounting for all these additional factors, there are still 1 million girls left that I can sample like a tasty free snack at the local supermarket. 1 million though only is 0.33% of the entire United States population. Less than one third of one percent. Gees.
Compounding things even more is the fact that under these conditions, there are now 8 guys for every 1 eligible bachelorette I might be interested in. I have to contend and somehow beat out 7 other guys to get a shot at a girl who may or may NOT be the one. The odds I have to beat are enormous.
And now my experience in this country suddenly starts to make a little sense. It explains why single moms with looks that could freeze over a nuclear reactor could STILL see their inbox jammed with letters from single desperate guys on online dating sites. It has become a buyer’s market for women here, and under these conditions, I understand now why so many girls I run across would always be obnoxious, arrogant, mean spirited or just plain cold and aloof. They can afford to be that way, because the odds are overwhelmingly in their favor.
Even for a decent girl, imagine having to deal with a mountain of guys all vying for her attention and wanting to get into her pants. Imagine it happening so often, day after day after day, that by the time the 8th guy rolls around who isn’t a complete poopieface (say, yours truly) she’ll be so disgusted by men that I’ll get shut down before I even have a chance to say hello.
Given these numbers and what they reveal about the current state of affairs in America, the Census data has offered me irrefutable proof that that dating scene here has become absolutely IMPOSSIBLE. Unless I’m willing to lower my standards dramatically and hook up with some Prozac popping Sasquatch for some psychedelic Nightmare on Elm Street kind of funsies, I have no recourse but to remain single.
Or… travel. A LOT.
Even if I stayed within the states, just traveling everywhere I can and as much as I can would at least boost the odds that I’ll come across one of the 1 million decent girls who might be…. THE ONE. Heck even traveling just 150 miles into Pennsylvania opened up a few opportunities for me. One thing’s for sure, I’ve been stuck here in New York for 30 something years and I have not come any iota closer to finding anyone. There really may be nothing for me here, so maybe it’s time to see what’s out there instead.
Beginning with oh say, a 12 state road trip I’m planning to do this fall. :-D
UPDATE: I was sent a link to this interactive map that paints a DEVASTATING picture for young, single men. The tide only starts to turn as men and women get older. Basically if I was willing to date 40-50 year old cougars I’d be the life of the party. Awesome.
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I’ve started chatting with girls from the Philippines but I’m still not sure if I wanna go that route…
Timaay, depends on the girl, but there are plenty of filipinas looking for love too. Want to know why so many are from Russia too? They outnumber men there 12 to 1. No wonder it seems every other girl on an international dating site is Russian.
Best thing to do is visit a country you like and make looking for love secondary. If you meet someone great, if not at least you had a good time visiting a place you’ve never been to before. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, as my pappy used to say…
RT @Linc4Justice: Blogged: Why I will never find the girl of my dreams unless I travel http://bit.ly/d4SlUA | Have you tried mail order?
Good luck beating the odds! ;-)
Thanks, I’m definitely gonna need it. :-D
You: 1…eligible women: 1,000,000. Get goin’, buddy!
Sure, I only have to compete with a 8 gajillion boolion other guys for that dwindling pool.
Or, I could go to Russia. :-D
I have been telling you for a year to go to the South, where the women are beautiful, intelligent, charming and generally conservative thinkers. :P
The exception is a blond girl who once asked what the ‘surprise’ was, during a discussion of Pulitzer prize winners. [Facepalm] But the odds you’ll meet her are pretty slim. Heh.
Good luck with your quest, Linc! I’m rooting for you.
Speaking of which, if this road trip plans holds up I will be visiting Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and possibly even Mississippi on my way back. I have the option of passing through Memphis from Arkansas or jutting up from Mississippi, or continuing on to Alabama and then heading north from there. I may need your input if I decide to go that route. That would pretty much cover all the southern states except Georgia though.
But knowing my luck, I would meet the dumb blonde. :-D
Road trips, even if they don’t pay off with exactly the goal (or girl) you had in mind, are still worth it; between ’01 and ’09 I did seven of them, totaling somewhere around 30,000 miles, and the experiences justified the (occasionally) considerable expense. I’d be on one now if I had the bucks to spare.
Yep, any girl hunting would be secondary. To see things like the Rockies or the Gulf coast and endearing cities like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, etc. would be worth the trip alone.
Did you ever rent a car when you took a road trip? It was suggested I go that route to spare the mileage I’d be adding on my own car (and putting it into an early grave.)
I know I’m late in responding to this blog post. Anyway.I see where you posted about not wanting to raise someone elses kids. You may want to rethink that. You never know what opportunities you may miss.
And what kind of opportunities are we talking about, Roddy?
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLL Bob, how about an exclusive opportunity to WIN 30 years of paying life draining child support for kids that aren’t even YOURS!!!! And just to sweeten the pot we’ll add alimony payments to ensure the former love of your life enjoys a life of luxury and happiness with her new replacement beau, all while you sweat like a dog to catch up on arrears and pay the rent on your modestly furnished roach infested studio apartment! ALL that and more, Only on the PRIIIIIIICE IS RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT (IN DIVORCE)!
Roddy, Bob, 30 years of child support? I have three god children. Their mother, my best friend and I were at one time going to get married and one day we probably will. I’ve been referred as their father,stepfather and now just god father. I have been there for them when their mother could not and father would not. You’ll never know what you might have missed.
Consider yourself an exception to the rule and one of the lucky ones then. If you had any idea as to the dangers of dating single mothers in America you would have a VERY different perspective.
No risk no reward. Trust me, I know all about risk and danger.
Fine, you take the risks, and I’ll take the rewards.
Remember.To old to soon, to wise too late.
Or. The saddest words of mice and men, to only know what might have been. Or something like that.
WOW, why does it have to be that complicated????
Are you sure that the girl of your dreams is out there?
Maybe you should take a look at you’re self and some of what you bring to the table????
I am single once again and if your searching for perfection well I hate to be the one to tell you it does not exist.
When you do find some one I hope the good in that person is so wonderful that you can over look or eccept the little imperfection she may posses.
No one is perfect!
It’s all about are you willing to gain all that wonderful while eccepting the little imperfections??????
Are you not asking the same of her????
Well, I would hope whoever she is, she would at least know how to spell properly.